POWER TOOL DUST COLLECTOR
A power tool assembly includes a hand-held power tool, a dust collector removably coupled to the power tool, and first and second power tool battery packs each of which is interchangeably coupled with the power tool and the dust collector for separately powering the power tool and the dust collector, respectively.
This application claims priority to co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 61/654,296 filed Jun. 1, 2012; 61/611,417 filed Mar. 15, 2012; and 61/611,003 filed Mar. 14, 2012, the entire contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
This application is also a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/349,784 filed Jan. 13, 2012, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Further, this application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/991,753 filed Nov. 9, 2010, which is a national stage entry under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/US09/43365 filed May 8, 2009, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/051,892 filed May 9, 2008, the entire contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to power tools, and more particularly to dust collectors for use with power tools.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONDust collectors are typically used in tandem with hand-held drilling tools such as rotary hammers to collect dust and other debris during a drilling operation to prevent dust and other debris from accumulating at a worksite. Such dust collectors may be attached to a rotary hammer to position a suction inlet of the collector proximate a drill bit attached to the rotary hammer. Such dust collectors may also include an on-board dust container in which dust and other debris is accumulated. Such dust containers are often removable from the dust collector to facilitate disposal of the accumulated dust and debris.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention provides, in one aspect, a power tool assembly including a hand-held power tool, a dust collector removably coupled to the power tool, and first and second power tool battery packs each of which is interchangeably coupled with the power tool and the dust collector for separately powering the power tool and the dust collector, respectively.
The invention provides, in another aspect, a dust collector for use with a hand-held power tool. The dust collector includes a housing, a telescoping suction pipe coupled to the housing, an electric motor positioned in the housing, a suction fan driven by the electric motor and operable to generate a vacuum in the suction pipe, a dust container coupled to the housing and positioned upstream of the suction fan, an adapter including a first portion coupled to the housing and a second portion, and an auxiliary handle coupled to the second portion of the adapter and a neck of the power tool. The adapter and the auxiliary handle support the power tool in a side-by-side relationship with the dust collector.
The invention provides, in yet another aspect, a dust collector for use with a hand-held power tool. The dust collector includes a housing, a telescoping suction pipe coupled to the housing, an electric motor positioned in the housing, a suction fan driven by the electric motor and operable to generate a vacuum in the suction pipe, and a switch electrically connecting the motor with a power source to activate the motor in response to detecting telescoping movement of the suction pipe relative to the housing.
The invention provides, in a further aspect, a dust collector including a housing, a telescoping suction pipe coupled to the housing, an electric motor positioned in the housing, a suction fan driven by the electric motor and operable to generate a vacuum in the suction pipe, and a handle assembly. The handle assembly includes a first handle having a head portion with a first size for receiving a neck of a first power tool for supporting the first power tool in a side-by-side relationship with the dust collector and a second handle having a head portion with a second size for receiving a neck of a second power tool for supporting the second power tool in a side-by-side relationship with the dust collector. The necks of the first and second power tools are of a different size.
The invention provides, in another aspect, a dust collector for use with a hand-held power tool. The dust collector includes a housing, a telescoping suction pipe coupled to the housing, an electric motor positioned in the housing, a suction fan driven by the electric motor and operable to generate a vacuum in the suction pipe, a dust container coupled to the housing and positioned upstream of the suction fan, and a filter supported by at least one of the housing and the dust container. The filter is removable from the one of the housing and the dust container for at least one of servicing and replacement.
The invention provides, in yet another aspect, a dust collector for use with a hand-held power tool. The dust collector includes a housing, a suction pipe coupled to the housing for telescoping movement along a first axis, an electric motor positioned in the housing, a suction fan driven by the electric motor and operable to generate a vacuum in the suction pipe, and a battery pack removably coupled to the housing along a second axis oriented substantially normal to the first axis.
The invention provides, in a further aspect, a dust collector for use with a hand-held power tool. The dust collector includes a housing, a telescoping suction pipe coupled to the housing, an electric motor positioned in the housing, a suction fan driven by the electric motor and operable to generate a vacuum in the suction pipe, a depth stop movable along the length of the suction pipe and selectively fixed to the suction pipe to limit the extent to which the suction pipe may telescope relative to the housing, and a ruler coupled for movement with the depth stop.
The invention provides, in another aspect, a dust collector for use with a hand-held power tool. The dust collector includes a housing, a telescoping suction pipe coupled to the housing, an electric motor positioned in the housing, a suction fan driven by the electric motor and operable to generate a vacuum in the suction pipe, a dust container removably coupled to the housing in which dust may be accumulated, a filter supportable by at least one of the housing and the dust container, and a detector coupled to the housing and biased toward a first position in which a portion of the detector protrudes from the housing to prevent the container from being coupled to the housing in absence of the filter. The portion of the detector is retractable into the housing in response to the detector being moved to a second position by the filter when the filter is present, thereby permitting the container to be coupled to the housing.
Other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONAs shown in
The rotary power tool 1 is also equipped with a handle 5. It may thus be operated by hand and accordingly be designated a hand-held rotary power tool 1. Accordingly, the rotary power tool 1 may generally be a hand-held power drill or a hand-held power tool or hand-held power machine tool.
In the example shown, the rotary power tool 1 and its housing 2 form an L-shape, since the tool's axis of rotation 3 is aligned essentially perpendicularly to the axis of rotation of a rotor of the electric motor for driving the spindle and/or the tool. In contrast to this, in the “pistol configuration” the axis of the electric motor's rotor is aligned essentially parallel to axis of rotation 3 of the tool.
With reference to
The rotary power tool 1 shown in
In the mounted state shown in
The dust collector 8 includes an adapter or support frame 9 and a housing 10 that is shown in partial cutaway in
Because clamping necks 7 are usually standardized in terms of shape and size (e.g., having a diameter of about 43 mm), this also makes it possible to mount the dust collector 8 on a wide range of different standard rotary power tools 1. Since there is no other contact between the mounted dust collector 8 and the rotary power tool 1, the dust collector 8 does not have to be adapted further to fit the respective rotary power tool 1 thereby making it considerably easier to use the dust collector 8 with a range of different rotary power tools 1. Consequently, the dust collector 8 may be used on many different models of rotary power tools 1 since the fastening device 11 not only enables attachment to the clamping neck 7, it also enables this attachment without any other connection between the dust collector 8 and the rotary power tool 1, so that no further adaptation has to be made between the rotary power tool 1 and the dust collector 8.
With continued reference to
The connector 12 and socket 13 permit different size housings 10 to be attached to the same support frame 9. Such housings 10 may be constructed differently, particularly with respect to a dust collection chamber 17 (described in further detail below), for different applications to accommodate both large and small dust collection chambers 17 depending upon the type of material being worked upon.
With continued reference to
The housing 10 is also furnished with an air inlet 20 and an air outlet 21, which may have the form of a plurality of slots positioned radially adjacent to the suction fan 16. The dust filter 18 is arranged upstream of the suction fan 16 in a flow path leading from the air inlet 20 to the air outlet 21. In this way, the fan 16 is protected from being hit by dirt particles and other debris. Accordingly, the dust collection chamber 17 is also located upstream of the fan 16 and upstream of the dust filter 18.
With continued reference to
With reference to
The outlet end 30 of the suction pipe 22 is connected to an at least partly flexible tube 31, which in turn is connected to the inlet opening 20 of the housing 10. The tube 31 is constructed flexibly with at least one U-shaped curved section 32. It is practical to construct the tube 31 so that the entire length thereof is flexible, that is to say from outlet end 30 to the air inlet 20. The tube 31 is attached detachably to the suction pipe 22. Alternatively, the tube 31 may be attached detachably to the housing 10. It is also possible to attach the tube 31 detachably to both the suction pipe 22 and the housing 10. In conjunction with the housing 10 that is attached detachably to the support frame 9, the detachable tube 31 enables easy mounting and removal of the housing 10 from the support frame 9. The flexibility of the tube 31 enables easy adaptation of the connection between the suction pipe 22 and the inlet opening 20 when the suction pipe 22 is adjusted lengthwise.
With reference to
In order to provide a dust-tight fluid coupling between the inner pipe 34 and the outer pipe 33, a corrugated or expandable tube (not shown) may be provided that folds together like an accordion when the inner pipe 34 advances into the outer pipe 33, and unfolds in the manner of an accordion when the inner pipe 34 is withdrawn from the outer pipe 33.
As shown in
In order to be able to switch on the dust collector 8 manually, it may be equipped with a button switch 36 (
In the illustrated embodiment of the dust collector 8, at least three switching positions are assigned to the button switch 36. In a first switching position, the electric motor 15 and fan 16 may be manually switched off or deactivated irrespective of actuation of the pressure switch 37, so that the fan 16 cannot be activated by operating the pressure switch 37. In a second switching position, the pressure switch 37 is activated so that the fan 16 may be switched on and off by the operating pressure switch 37. In other words, in the second switching position, the electric motor 15 and fan 16 may be activated and deactivated automatically in response to actuation of the pressure switch 37. In a third switching position, the electric motor 15 and fan 16 may be switched on or activated manually regardless of the pressure switch 37 being operated. In other words, in the third switching position, the electric motor 15 may be activated manually irrespective of actuation of the pressure switch 37. Therefore, when the button switch 36 is toggled to the third switching position, the dust collector 8 may be used as a stand-alone suction or vacuum device when it is detached from the rotary power tool 1. The first, second, and third switching positions may occur in any sequential order depending upon the configuration of the switch 36.
With reference to
The fastening device 11 may be designed for a specific cross section of the clamping neck 7, for example for a standard circular cross section with a 43 mm diameter.
In the illustrated embodiment of the dust collector 8, the housing 10 is also furnished with a housing section 41 that is constructed in the form of an additional handle (
The dust filter 18 may be designed as a fine dust filter. Such a fine dust filter, which may also be referred to as a HEPA filter (High Efficiency Particulate Absorber), is able to trap at least 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns and smaller that are typically generated during drilling. In this way, not only is the fan 16 protected from being hit by larger particles but fine dust is also prevented from contaminating the area surrounding the rotary power tool 1, thereby reducing the hazard to the health of the operator using it. The dust filter 18 may include a standard filter medium such as a fleece material or a paper material.
In order to prevent the dust filter 18 from being damaged by the impact of larger particles as well, an impactor 42 (
The dust collection chamber 17 is defined at least partially by a collection container 44 (
It is particularly advantageous to make the collection container 44 from a relatively hard and/or rigid plastic, which is practically designed so that the collection container 44 is not noticeably deformed due to the vacuum generated in the dust collection chamber 17 when the dust collector 8 is being operated.
The housing 10 may also be made such that it is at least partly transparent to visible light at least in the area of the dust collection chamber 17. For example, the housing 10 may be furnished with a transparent window in the area of the dust collection chamber 17 to view the accumulated height of the dust and other debris within the chamber 17. If, as here, a collection container 44 is used the container 44 may be made to be entirely transparent for the same purpose. The collection container 44 may equally contain at least one transparent window, and the rest of the container 44 may be non-transparent or opaque. The housing 10 is advantageously made from a plastic for this purpose. If the housing 10 and/or collection container 44 includes transparent and non-transparent areas, the housing 10 and the collection container 44 may be manufactured using different plastics.
Unlike the housing 10, the support frame 9 is advantageously made from metal, a lightweight metal or lightweight metal alloy being preferred. Aluminium or an aluminium alloy is particularly suitable for the purpose.
If the power source 19 is configured as a rechargeable battery or rechargeable battery pack, as here, it may be fitted detachably to the handle-shaped section 41 in the housing 10. In this way, it is possible for example to charge the power source 19 using a separate charger. This also makes it possible to use several power sources 19 in an alternating manner.
The suction channel 26 may be disposed on the suction pipe 22 so as to be rotatable about the longitudinal centerline 23 of the suction pipe 22. A locking device 45 (
The suction channel 26 may have a screen 46 on a side facing away from the suction opening 29, which is facing towards the viewer in
The suction channel 26 has a predefined length that is synchronized with the distance between the axis of rotation of the tool 3 and the centerline axis of the suction pipe 22, which is adjusted when the dust collector 8 is mounted on a rotary power tool 1 having a standard clamping neck 7 cross section to which the dust collector 8 is adapted. To enable other cross sections of the clamping neck 7 as well, in another embodiment of the dust collector 8, the suction channel 26 may also be designed so that its length is adjustable.
The dust collector 8 is designed such that it may be operated using an on-board power source and mounted on the rotary power tool 1 in such way that when mounted it is positioned next to the rotary power tool 1 in a typical working position of the rotary power tool 1, and spaced apart from the rotary power tool 1 by the fastening device 11 such that the dust collector 8 does not otherwise touch or contact the rotary power tool 1.
The dust collector 110 includes a housing 118, a telescoping suction pipe 122 coupled to the housing 118, an electric motor 126 positioned in the housing 118 (
With reference to
With continued reference to
The adapter 150 also includes a cam 186 and a follower 190 for actuating the movable clamp member 174 between an open position in which it is displaced from the second notch 182 and disengaged from the housing 118, and a closed position in which the movable clamp member 174 is received within the second notch 182 and engaged with the housing 118 (
The handles 142a-142c are sized to maintain a generally consistent spacing between parallel axes 202, 206 of the power tool 114 and the dust collector 110, respectively (
With continued reference to
With reference to
With reference to
The shroud 242 defines a stepped suction inlet 246 (
As shown in
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
In the illustrated embodiment of the dust collector 110 shown in
In a first manner of operating the dust collector 110, the controller initiates a timer upon the first switch 338 detecting movement of the suction pipe 122 from the fully extended position to a retracted position. If the suction pipe 122 is maintained in a retracted position for a predetermined amount of time (e.g., at least one second), the controller maintains activation of the motor 126 for another predetermined amount of time (e.g., four seconds) subsequent to the suction pipe 122 returning to its fully extended position so that dust and other debris within the suction pipe 122 may be cleared and deposited in the dust container 134 after completion of a drilling operation and removal of the dust collector 110 from the workpiece. If the suction pipe 122 is not maintained in a retracted position for at least one second, for example, the controller immediately deactivates the motor 126 in response to the suction pipe 122 returning to its fully extended position.
In a second manner of operating the dust collector 110, rather than immediately activating the motor 126 in response to retraction of the suction pipe 122, the controller initiates a timer upon the first switch 338 detecting movement of the suction pipe 122 from the fully extended position to a refracted position. The controller activates the motor 126 only after a predetermined amount of time (e.g., a fraction of a second) lapses with the suction pipe 122 maintained in the retracted position. As a result, inadvertent “bumps” or contact with the suction pipe 122 that might otherwise cause slight refraction of the suction pipe 122 are ignored by the controller, thereby maintaining the motor 126 in a deactivated state and conserving power in the battery pack 218.
Also, rather than immediately deactivating the motor 126 when the suction pipe 122 is returned to its fully extended position, the controller maintains activation of the motor 126 for a period of time (e.g., a fraction of a second or more) in response to the first switch 338 resuming contact with the extension stop 314, at which time the first switch 338 is actuated to an open state. As a result, dust and other debris within the suction pipe 122 may be cleared and deposited in the dust container 134 after completion of a drilling operation and removal of the dust collector 110 from the workpiece.
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
The first arm 362 is located on the shaft 366 such that the first arm 362 is generally aligned with one of the segments of the rim 354 when the filter 346 is situated in an installed position in the dust container 134. As such, when the pre-assembled filter 346 and dust container 134 are moved into position for attachment to the housing 118, the first arm 362 is engaged by the rim 354, therefore causing the detector 358 to pivot about the axis 370. A resilient member (e.g., a compression spring, not shown) is positioned between the housing 118 and the second arm 378 for biasing the detector 358 to a position in which the first arm 362 protrudes from the housing 118 in absence of the filter 346.
With continued reference to
However, when the pre-assembled filter 346 and dust container 134 are moved into position for attachment to the housing 118, the first arm 362 is engaged by the rim 354, thereby causing the shaft 366 to pivot about the axis 370 and remove the finger 374 from the aperture 382. The alignment tab 386 on the dust container 134 may then be fully received within the aperture 382 for attaching and subsequently securing the dust container 134 to the housing 118.
The dust collector 410 includes an adapter 450 and an auxiliary handle 442 for supporting the power tool 414 in a side-by-side relationship with the dust collector 410 (
With continued reference to
With reference to
Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. A power tool assembly, comprising:
- a hand-held power tool;
- a dust collector removably coupled to the power tool; and
- first and second power tool battery packs each of which is interchangeably coupled with the power tool and the dust collector for separately powering the power tool and the dust collector, respectively.
2. The power tool assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second power tool battery packs are identical.
3. The power tool assembly of claim 1, wherein the power tool and the dust collector are coupled in a side-by-side relationship.
4. The power tool assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second battery packs includes three lithium-ion battery cells.
5. The power tool assembly of claim 1, wherein the power tool is a rotary power tool.
6. The power tool assembly of claim 5, wherein the rotary power tool is one of a rotary hammer and a hammer drill.
7. The power tool assembly of claim 1, wherein the dust collector includes a housing and a suction pipe coupled to the housing for telescoping movement along a first axis, and wherein the second battery pack is removably coupled to the housing along a second axis oriented substantially normal to the first axis.
8. The power tool assembly of claim 7, wherein the power tool is a rotary power tool defining a rotational axis, and wherein the first axis is substantially parallel with the rotational axis of the power tool.
9. The power tool assembly of claim 1, wherein the dust collector further includes
- a housing,
- a telescoping suction pipe coupled to the housing,
- an electric motor positioned in the housing,
- a suction fan driven by the electric motor and operable to generate a vacuum in the suction pipe,
- a dust container coupled to the housing and positioned upstream of the suction fan,
- an adapter including a first portion coupled to the housing and a second portion, and
- an auxiliary handle coupled to the second portion of the adapter and the power tool, the adapter and the auxiliary handle supporting the power tool in a side-by-side relationship with the dust collector.
10. The power tool assembly of claim 9, wherein the housing includes a first side and an opposite second side, and wherein the first portion of the adapter is interchangeably connectable to the first and second sides of the housing to thereby support the power tool adjacent a chosen one of the first and second sides of the housing.
11. The power tool assembly of claim 10, further comprising a suction head coupled to a distal end of the suction pipe, wherein the suction head is repositionable between first and second orientations to accommodate placement of the power tool adjacent the first and second sides of the housing, respectively.
12. The power tool assembly of claim 11, wherein the suction head is pivotably coupled to the distal end of the suction pipe between the first and second orientations.
13. The power tool assembly of claim 12, further comprising a detent arrangement for maintaining the suction head in at least one of the first and second orientations.
14. The power tool assembly of claim 13, wherein the detent arrangement includes first and second detent members on the suction head, and first and second detent recesses positioned on opposite sides of the suction pipe, wherein the first detent member is received in the first detent recess to maintain the suction head in the first orientation, and wherein the second detent member is received in the second detent recess to maintain the suction head in the second orientation.
15. The power tool assembly of claim 14, further comprising an end cap coupled to the distal end of the suction pipe between the suction pipe and the suction head, wherein the first and second recesses are both defined in the end cap.
16. The power tool assembly of claim 10, wherein the adapter includes a fixed clamp member and an opposed, movable clamp member for clamping the adapter to one of the first and second sides of the housing.
17. The power tool assembly of claim 16, wherein each of the first and second sides of the housing includes a first notch in which the fixed clamp member is received, and a second notch in which the movable clamp member is received.
18. The power tool assembly of claim 17, wherein the adapter includes a cam and a follower for actuating the movable clamp member between an open position in which it is displaced from the second notch and disengaged from the housing, and a closed position in which the movable clamp member is received within the second notch and engaged with the housing.
19. The power tool assembly of claim 18, wherein the movable clamp member is integrally formed with the follower as a single piece.
20. The power tool assembly of claim 18, wherein the adapter includes a resilient member that biases the movable clamp member away from the fixed clamp member and toward the open position.
21. The power tool assembly of claim 9, wherein the auxiliary handle includes a cylindrical band received within an arcuate slot in the adapter and a rotatable grip for constricting and expanding the band, and wherein a neck of the power tool is clamped by the band.
22. The power tool assembly of claim 9, wherein the handle includes a shaft extending from the second portion of the adapter and a clamp member movable relative to the shaft, and wherein the power tool is clamped between the movable clamp member and the adapter.
23. The power tool assembly of claim 22, wherein the adapter includes a fixed clamp member, and wherein the power tool is clamped between the movable clamp member and the fixed clamp member.
24. The power tool assembly of claim 23, wherein the shaft includes a threaded portion, wherein the handle includes a grip having therein a threaded insert engaged with the threaded portion of the shaft, and wherein the movable clamp member is movable along the shaft in response to relative rotation between the grip and the shaft for clamping the power tool between the movable clamp member and the fixed clamp member.
25. The power tool assembly of claim 24, wherein the handle includes a spacer positioned between the movable clamp member and the grip.
26. The power tool assembly of claim 1, wherein the dust collector further includes
- a housing,
- a telescoping suction pipe coupled to the housing,
- an electric motor positioned in the housing,
- a suction fan driven by the electric motor and operable to generate a vacuum in the suction pipe, and
- a switch electrically connecting the motor with the second battery to activate the motor in response to detecting telescoping movement of the suction pipe relative to the housing.
27. The power tool assembly of claim 26, wherein the switch is a first switch, wherein the dust collector further includes a second switch electrically connected with the motor, the second battery, and the first switch, and wherein the second switch is toggled between a first switching position in which the electric motor remains deactivated irrespective of actuation of the first switch, a second switching position in which the electric motor may be activated and deactivated automatically in response to actuation of the first switch, and a third switching position in which the electric motor may be activated irrespective of actuation of the first switch.
28. The power tool assembly of claim 27, further comprising:
- a suction head removably coupled to the suction pipe, the suction head including a suction inlet through which a tool bit of the power tool is extendable, and
- a nozzle interchangeably coupled to the suction pipe with the suction head, the nozzle being usable with the dust collector without the power tool when the second switch is in the third switching position.
29. The power tool assembly of claim 27, further comprising an extension stop adjustably coupled along the length of the suction pipe to limit an extent to which the suction pipe telescopes from the housing, wherein the first switch is actuated by the extension stop.
30. The power tool assembly of claim 29, wherein the first switch is a normally closed microswitch, and wherein the microswitch is actuated to an open state in response to contact with the extension stop.
31. The power tool assembly of claim 30, wherein the microswitch is actuated to a closed state in response to a loss of contact with the extension stop.
32. The power tool assembly of claim 26, wherein the suction pipe is telescopically movable relative to the housing from an extended position to a retracted position in response to being depressed against a workpiece, and wherein the switch electrically connects the motor with the second battery in response to the switch detecting movement of the suction pipe from the extended position to the retracted position.
33. The power tool assembly of claim 32, further comprising a controller electrically connected with the switch and the second battery.
34. The power tool assembly of claim 33, wherein the controller maintains activation of the motor for a period of time in response to the switch detecting movement of the suction pipe from the refracted position to the extended position for clearing dust from the suction pipe.
35. The power tool assembly of claim 34, wherein the controller initiates a timer upon detecting movement of the suction pipe from the extended position to the retracted position, and wherein the controller maintains activation of the motor for clearing dust from the suction pipe only after a predetermined amount of time lapses with the suction pipe maintained in the retracted position.
36. The power tool assembly of claim 1, wherein the dust collector further includes
- a housing,
- a telescoping suction pipe coupled to the housing,
- an electric motor positioned in the housing,
- a suction fan driven by the electric motor and operable to generate a vacuum in the suction pipe,
- a dust container coupled to the housing and positioned upstream of the suction fan, and
- a filter supported by at least one of the housing and the dust container, the filter being removable from the one of the housing and the dust container for at least one of servicing and replacement.
37. The power tool assembly of claim 36, wherein the filter is removably received in the dust container.
38. The power tool assembly of claim 37, wherein the dust container and the filter are removable from the housing as a unit.
39. The power tool assembly of claim 37, wherein the filter includes a pleated element and a rim surrounding the pleated element, and wherein the rim is trapped between the dust container and the housing when the dust container is attached to the housing.
40. The power tool assembly of claim 39, wherein the pleated element extends into an interior of the dust container.
41. The power tool assembly of claim 40, wherein the filter is oriented relative to the dust container in an inclined or an oblique manner relative to a longitudinal axis of the suction pipe.
42. The power tool assembly of claim 39, wherein the rim is accessible for grasping to facilitate removal of the filter from the dust container when the dust container is detached from the housing.
43. The power tool assembly of claim 36, wherein the filter is a high efficiency particulate air filter.
44. The power tool assembly of claim 36, wherein the dust collector further includes a detector coupled to the housing and biased toward a first position in which a portion of the detector protrudes from the housing to prevent the dust container from being coupled to the housing in absence of the filter, the protruding portion of the detector being retractable into the housing in response to the detector being moved to a second position by the filter when the filter is present, thereby permitting the dust container to be coupled to the housing.
45. The power tool assembly of claim 44, wherein the detector is pivotably supported by the housing at a location upstream of the suction fan.
46. The power tool assembly of claim 44, wherein the detector includes a shaft defining a rotational axis about which the detector is pivotable and an arm extending radially from the shaft, and wherein the arm is engaged with the filter when the filter is present.
47. The power tool assembly of claim 46, wherein the protruding portion is configured as a finger positioned adjacent the arm.
48. The power tool assembly of claim 47, wherein the housing includes an aperture aligned with the finger, and wherein the dust container includes an alignment tab that is receivable in the aperture when the pre-assembled filter and dust container are attached to the housing.
49. The power tool assembly of claim 48, wherein the finger is pivoted to a position in which it at least partially protrudes into the aperture in absence of the filter, thereby interfering with the alignment tab to prevent the dust container from being attached to the housing.
50. The power tool assembly of claim 1, wherein the power tool is a first power tool, and wherein the dust collector further includes
- a housing,
- a telescoping suction pipe coupled to the housing,
- an electric motor positioned in the housing,
- a suction fan driven by the electric motor and operable to generate a vacuum in the suction pipe, and
- a handle assembly including a first handle having a head portion with a first size for receiving a neck of a first power tool for supporting the first power tool in a side-by-side relationship with the dust collector, and a second handle having a head portion with a second size for receiving a neck of a second power tool for supporting the second power tool in a side-by-side relationship with the dust collector, the necks of the first and second power tools being of a different size.
51. The power tool assembly of claim 50, wherein the handle assembly further includes
- a first adapter attached to the first handle, and
- a second adapter attached to the second handle, wherein the first and second adapters interchangeably attach the respective first and second handles to the housing.
52. The power tool assembly of claim 51, wherein the handle assembly further includes a third handle having a head portion with a third size for receiving a neck of a third power tool for supporting the third power tool in a side-by-side relationship with the dust collector, and wherein the necks of the first, second, and third power tools are of a different size.
53. The power tool assembly of claim 52, wherein the handle assembly further includes a third adapter attached to the third handle, and wherein the third adapter interchangeably attaches the third handle to the housing.
54. The power tool assembly of claim 51, wherein the housing includes a first side and an opposite second side, and wherein the first and second adapters are each interchangeably connectable to the first and second sides of the housing to thereby support one of the first and second power tools adjacent a chosen one of the first and second sides of the housing.
55. The power tool assembly of claim 51, wherein each of the first and second handles includes a cylindrical band and a rotatable grip for constricting and expanding the band, and wherein the necks of the first and second power tools are clamped by the respective bands.
56. The power tool assembly of claim 55, wherein the respective cylindrical bands of the first and second handles include different circumferential lengths.
57. The power tool assembly of claim 1, wherein the dust collector includes
- a housing,
- a telescoping suction pipe coupled to the housing,
- an electric motor positioned in the housing,
- a suction fan driven by the electric motor and operable to generate a vacuum in the suction pipe,
- a depth stop movable along the length of the suction pipe and selectively fixed to the suction pipe to limit the extent to which the suction pipe may telescope relative to the housing, and
- a ruler coupled for movement with the depth stop.
58. The power tool assembly of claim 57, wherein the ruler includes a plurality of reference markings, and wherein a first of the markings is alignable with a reference datum on the housing to limit an extent to which the suction pipe telescopes into the housing to a first depth.
59. The power tool assembly of claim 58, wherein a second of the markings is alignable with the reference datum on the housing to limit the extent to which the suction pipe telescopes into the housing to a second depth.
60. The power tool assembly of claim 57, wherein the depth stop is engageable with the housing to limit the extent to which the suction pipe may telescope relative to the housing.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 6, 2012
Publication Date: Aug 22, 2013
Patent Grant number: 9776296
Inventors: Michael R. Brewster (Milwaukee, WI), Tsz Kin Wong (Hong Kong), Chin Hung Lam (Hong Kong), Brian P. Wattenbach (Menomonee Falls, WI), Brandon L. Verbrugge (Brookfield, WI), Roland Vögele (Winnenden), Kurt Limberg (Milwaukee, WI), Ming Cong Chen (Dongguang City)
Application Number: 13/604,674
International Classification: B23Q 11/00 (20060101);